Early this morning, Senate Republicans forced the health care reform reconciliation bill back to the House for another vote after identifying some issues with two provisions. CNN calls them "violations," the NY Times calls them "parliamentary problems" and adds, "The successful parliamentary challenge did not appear to endanger the eventual adoption of the changes to the health care legislation. And Mr. Obama on Tuesday already signed the main health care bill into law."
The issues are language related to Pell Grants that violate budget rules; Politico reports, "All told, 16 lines of text will be removed from the 153-page bill to strip the Pell Grant language, Majority Leader Harry Reid's spokesman Jim Manley told reporters as business on the Senate floor wrapped up early Thursday morning." And for those who are wondering: "The Pell Grant provision is in the bill because the health legislation also makes changes to the federal student-loan program," the Wall Street Journal explains.
In the meantime, some Democrats across the country are worried for their safety—Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) said a brick was thrown at her district office windows and, at Rep. Tom Perriello's (D-Virginia) brother's house, a gas line was slashed. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) said, "There's a real feeling that some of the comments from the Republican leaders and Republicans are not tamping down the fire, they are throwing fuel on the fire. And that is totally inappropriate," but House Minority leader John Boehner said, "I've made statements that I understand people are angry, but violence and threats are inappropriate and irresponsible. If people are angry, they ought to register to vote and get involved in a campaign."
